Archive for
September, 2006

Ramadan Mubarak! We pray that Allah (SWT) enable us all to reap the rewards of this great month. Ameen.

For last two weeks, we have been negotiating with Six Flags for event
date on Eid Day. In principal, they agreed to open the park for us. But
despite several attempts, they are unable to secure enough staff to
open all rides on Eid Day at the peak times. After thorough
discussions, we have decided not to reschedule the event when the
product is not up to the standards expected by event ticket holders.

However,
the Six Flags Great Adventure has agreed to extend the validity of
tickets till the end of August 2007. Insha Allah. Please remember that
regular day ticket price at Great Adventure, NJ, is over $60 per person
after tax. You can redeem your tickets at any day of your convenience
including weekends through out the summer, next year. Alhamdulillah.

In case, if you are still unsatisfied, then Insha Allah, ICNA-NJ will
do its best to refund your tickets. We want to remind you that this
event is organized entirely by volunteers. Our main goal in organizing
this event is the Pleasure of Allah (SWT), and the benefit our young
generation and larger community. It is for this reason that despite
facing financial losses, we will attempt to do the above.

To
receive refunds, you must mail your tickets via secure mail like
registered or certified mail to ICNA-NJ, PO Box 1054, Piscataway, NJ
08854. Once we receive your tickets then we will mail you a check
promptly. Please note that we do not take responsibility for lost
tickets. Do not forget to include your phone number and return address. We must receive your tickets by October 15, 2006. There will be no exceptions. Please note that all transactions via credit cards will incur processing fees.

When
you do call our hotline, 877-363-ICNA, if you cannot reach our
volunteer associates, then please do leave a message with your contact
information, and we will return your call, Insha Allah. You can also
contact us at info@icnanj.org. Insha Allah.

Again, we encourage you to redeem your tickets by the end of next year's summer, and not seek refunds.

Please remember us in your duas. Indeed, Allah (SWT) is the best of planners.

"O you who believe! Fasting is prescribed for you as it was prescribed to those before you so that you may attain God consciousness" – (Al-Quran 2:183)

Ramadan, the month of great blessings and rewards, is just a few days away. May Allah, subhanahu wa ta'ala, enable us all to reap the rewards of this great month.

"The Islamic Circle of North America (ICNA) has traditionally adopted the opinion of sighting the moon in North America . On the advice of ICNA's Scholars Committee, we have decided to continue following our existing approach and will not be adopting a calendar which is primarily based on calculations.

An overwhelming majority of the National Shura Council's members, in their meeting held on September 19, 2006, have also decided to go by the local moon sighting. However, for the sake of unity, we suggest that Muslims cooperate and follow their local Masjid and community, whether they follow our approach or not."

Islam is not just a religion but 'a way of life'. A Muslim submits to Allah, subhanahu wa ta'ala, not just in prayers and fasting but submission in all affairs of his or her life. And one important aspect of this submission lies in mutual respect and love for other Muslims and being part of the Muslim community.

"And hold fast, all together, by the rope which Allah (stretches out for you) and be not divided among yourselves…" (Quran 3:103)

JAMAICA, New York (September 16, 2006) – The Islamic Circle of North America (ICNA), a national Muslim grassroots organization has issued the following statement on the recent speech made by Pope Benedict XVI in Germany:Read more

JAMAICA, New York (September 16, 2006) – The Islamic Circle of North America (ICNA), a national Muslim grassroots organization has issued the following statement on the recent speech made by Pope Benedict XVI in Germany:Read more

"Voices to Stop Genocide" is organized by the Save Darfur Coalition, an alliance of more than 170 faith-based, humanitarian and human rights organizations. In order to stop the genocide, a United Nations peacekeeping force must be immediately deployed to the Darfur region.

"SAVE DARFUR NOW: Voices to Stop Genocide" is timed to coincide with the opening of the 61st General Assembly of the United Nations. Participants are united in demonstrating a global commitment to protecting the people of Darfur.

To take a cross-community pulse of the city at this significant moment,
City Limits Weekly Editor Karen Loew sat down for a conversation with
Queens resident Adem Carroll, a Muslim who is chair of the
dialogue-building Muslim Consultative Network and, through the Islamic
Circle of North America, provided emergency legal and financial help to
more than 850 people detained in post-9/11 legal sweeps; Brooklyn
resident Sunita Subramanian, who led the Disaster Relief and Recovery
Program for Lawyers Alliance for New York and now heads its Immigrant
Communities Initiative; and Manhattan resident Madelyn Wils, who is and
has been a leader of numerous downtown community and arts organizations.

The day after Sept. 11, 2001, Malika Bey Rushdan stopped for gas at
a filling station in Massachusetts. As she exited her car, wearing a
hijab—the head scarf that identifies her as a Muslim—the man filling
his tank in front of her began screaming at her, asking her
rhetorically, “if she was happy now?”

Instead of returning the man’s hostility, Rushdan confronted the
man telling him she could never be happy about the deaths of thousands
of people. She continued by explaining a bit about her faith and the
belief of many of its followers that acts of terrorism and violence are
against the central peaceful tenets of Islam.

Glenville Ashby, journalist and New York Carib News contributor, speaks with Mrs. Daisy Khan of American Society For Muslim Advancement and Mr. Azeem Khan of Islamic Circle of North America and explores many of the misconceptions and stereotypes surrounding the Western view of Islam.